"Sow the Spirit... Reap Eternal Life."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy.  I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


Galatians 6:7-10
7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. ⁸If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. ⁹So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. ¹⁰So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.


1) "...God is not mocked;" "...you reap whatever you sow;" "...sow the Spirit;" "...reap eternal life;" "...let us not grow wearing in doing what is right;" "...we will reap at harvest time;" "...let us work for the good of all;"


2) It is easy to be deceived. Especially when tired, overwhelmed, anxious, and angry. But as Richard Rohr says, the true self is never offended... God is not mocked. It can be hard to believe that we reap what we sow. Bad things happen to good people and bad people seem to get all the power and authority. How do we stop giving authority to bad people? I know that there are not "bad people" but it sometimes seems far too much to separate actions from personhood. Some people seem bent on making life as miserable as possible for the rest of the world. I know that I am humbly grateful for the crazy madness that makes up the package of ills in my own life. Because with that package of ills comes so much blessing, and I am profoundly grateful for the blessings, they far outweigh the ills. The trap is letting myself be deceived into backsliding into negative behaviour because sowing what is right seems to bear no fruit. God is not mocked. Even if I never see the fruit, I'm still called to sow what is right. God is not mocked. Eternal life is the life of profound connection to people, to the world, to companions, to the Holy and the Sacred. I reap abundantly of the fount of eternal life. Thanks be to God! Today I had breakfast with a dear friend; I dreamed up plans for creative expression in my home; I started making some of those plans come to fruition because I have the resources to do so; I enjoyed the (rare) sunshine on the drive to work; I get to connect deeply with people I care about throughout my workweek... the list of fruit of eternal life I reap at the harvest goes on and on.  Thanks be to God!


3) What is the invitation in all this? To sow what is right. And to be grateful that I have the privilege of sowing what is right. And to enjoy and give thanks for the eternal life I do reap.


"Thank you, Holy One, for all the ways I am privileged to reap of the fount of eternal life.  May I sow, so as to continue to reap, and that others may also reap."


Breathprayer: " Sow the spirit... reap eternal life."

"...Share in all Good Things."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


Galatians 6:1-6

6My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. ²Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ. ³For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. ⁴All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbour’s work, will become a cause for pride. ⁵For all must carry their own loads.

6 Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.

1) "...restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness;" "...take care that you yourselves are not tempted;" "...bear one another's burdens;" "...deceive themselves;" "...all must test their own work;" "...all must carry their own loads;" "...share in all good things;"


2) He doesn't say what to do if attempts to "restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness" are thwarted. I've been taking an art class one evening a week. Last fall I loved the class. It gave me a couple hours a week to work with minimal supervision on a totally new to me skill. This season, I am enjoying the class less. The content is more challenging, and I'm not taking to it as easily. But also the classes themselves are less... peaceful. It is a different group of students. This season there is a woman in our class who talks incessantly, mostly complaining. I've changed seating so I'm not sitting next to her. But her voice still dominates the space for the full hour and a half that we are gathered. Even when we are receiving instruction, she fills the air with complaints about what the instructor is asking us to do and how he is asking us to do it. I'm feeling resentful. And I'm resentful about being resentful. I'm enjoying the classes much less between the natural challenge, and the environmental change. I just want her to stop talking and filling the air with her negativity. As I sit through the class trying to concentrate, I feel my own body generating negativity. Where's the off switch? My own as well as hers? How am I deceiving myself? I am definitely being tested in my own work.


3) What is the invitation in all this? To take care that I myself am not tempted. I feel sorrow for her, that she needs to express herself so negatively with strangers. Maybe the invitation is to pray for greater mindfulness of Christ's presence during art classes.


"God give us strength."


Breathprayer: "...share in all good things."

"Live by the Spirit... Belong to Christ."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully.  I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.

Galatians 5:22-26

22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. ²⁴And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

1) "...live by the spirit;" "...guided by the spirit;" "...fruit of the spirit;" "...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control;" "...those who belong to Christ;" "...live by the Spirit;" "...belong to Christ;"

2) Do we behave as though we belong to Christ? I can give a definite maybe. We do not behave as though we belong to Christ when we become conceited, compete against one another, or envy one another. And there was the "bad list" yesterday of behaviours that do not belong to the Spirit or Christ. I ask daily to manifest the fruit of the spirit listed in this passage. Here in my blog as well as at home in my morning pages. Does asking/praying to bear these fruit manifest them? Once again, I can give a definite maybe. My giving is at an all time high financially. I feel my anger flares less often, especially I observe this in traffic and walking. How's my food? diet? exercise? Do I experience the peace I want? Am I in the bow resting with Jesus, or am I getting tossed about on the storm with the disciples? Honestly, I think I'm experiencing more equilibrium now than I have experienced, though I am still quite able to be knocked about... especially by certain individuals... its always the same individuals... Two thoughts come at the same time... "I should pray more for peace" and "Wait, I use the word 'peace' every day for my 20 minutes of centering prayer!" Maybe I need to focus on receptivity... especially around equanimity and peace.

3) What is the invitation in all this? To be more receptive of equanimity and peace.

"Holy One, I ask to be more receptive of the peace and equanimity you offer in your great abundance. Help me to let go of the self-importance and righteousness that justify my excitation when I feel 'offended' and needing to defend what is 'right'.  In all things for which I pray, help me to be present to the ways in which I belong to Christ and the Holy Spirit."

Breathprayer: "Live by the spirit... belong to Christ."

"Live by the Spirit... Inherit the Kingdom."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully.  I ask for patience, tolerance, empathy, and compassion.  I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.

Galatians 5:16-21

16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. ¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, ²¹envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1) "...Live by the spirit;" "...led by the spirit;" "...

2) These are regrettable words. Paul is making a distinction between two ways of being.  Unfortunately, his use of "spirit" and "flesh" to distinguish the two ways, will get taken literally, to the detriment of the world. Taken literally, this passage erodes an embodied theology... the incarnation itself, the center of Paul's gospel! Suffice it to be that Paul discourages the behaviours of "fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these." It is a "list," probably a stock list inherited by Paul. It is extensive, thought not meant to be exhaustive. Paul wants us to remember that our "belief" and "faith" are followed by a change in behaviour.  To participate in the kingdom of God is to abstain from these behaviours. When we engage in these behaviours, we pound nails in the hands and feet of the very Christ we claim to follow. It seems to me that none of us are free from the accusation of pounding nails into the hands and feet of Christ. I can't imagine many people being free of all of these behaviours... "and things like these." Humility, humility, humility. None of us is all that.

3) What is the invitation in all this? To abstain from behaviours that are a barrier to the Kingdom of God? But that is probably simply not possible.  Maybe it is better to seek behaviours that nurture and engage the Kingdom of God, and to cease behaviour that is contrary to the Kingdom of God when we realize we are doing them, and seek amends immediately.

"Holy One, guide us to your kingdom."

Breathprayer: "Live by the spirit... inherit the kingdom."

"Called to Freedom... Love One Another."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, empathy, and compassion. I ask to abstain from anxiety, anger, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


Galatians 5:13-15
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. ¹⁴For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ ¹⁵If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.


1) "...called to freedom;" "...opportunity for self-indulgence;" "...through love become slaves to one another;" "...You shall love your neighbour as yourself;" "...through love become slaves to one another;" "...called to freedom;" "...


2) "Freedom" cannot be "absolute." Freedom is found in mutual relationship, love. We are freed to love one another AS ourselves. Not "like," but "as." It isn't a metaphor... to love others the way we love ourselves, but to love others as an extension of ourselves. When my neighbour bleeds, I bleed. We are one body in Christ. When a member of the body is injured, the whole body is weakened and experiences the pain. How "free" can one be if one keeps slamming their foot with a hammer? Devouring another is to consume ourselves. This is certainly not how our world works. Watching 45 proclaim that the solution to mass shootings in the US is to produce, buy, sell more guns, is definitely part of the devour/consume paradigm, not the love your neighbour as yourself/become slaves to one another paradigm. I dislike the "slave" imagery, but I'm open to service, and serving one another. How are we called to serve one another? How are we called to exercise our freedom in service to one another? Do I experience my freedom when serving? yes.  That was a quick response.  I definitely experience freedom when I choose to serve, either by making a generous financial gift, or by giving my time and skills. I have a felt sense of freedom when I choose to serve. On the other hand, when someone tells me I should do "this" or "that" I do not feel the freedom of serving... then I'm enslaved. It is freedom only if I have the choice to freely server or not serve.


3) What is the invitation in all this? To explore how I freely serve.


"Holy One, Thank you for the opportunity to serve, and for the companions who serve with me."


Breathprayer: "Called to freedom... love one another."

"Obey... the One Who Calls You."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully. I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy. I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Christ more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


Galatians 5:7-12
7 You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth? ⁸Such persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. ⁹A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. ¹⁰I am confident about you in the Lord that you will not think otherwise. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty. ¹¹But my friends, why am I still being persecuted if I am still preaching circumcision? In that case the offence of the cross has been removed. ¹²I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!


1) "You were running well;" "...the one who calls you;" "...a little yeast leavens the who batch of dough;" "...I am confident;" "...I am confident about you in the Lord;" "... I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!"


2) This makes me smile this morning.  There are those who unsettle me.  Why do I let them? It does make a small part of my heart smile to think of Paul wishing those who unsettle me would castrate themselves. Perhaps a bit extreme. Better I would just stop letting them unsettle me. "A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough." But which is the leaven and which is the dough?!? Is it a little confidence that leavens the loaf to good, or a little unsettlement that leavens the loaf to bad? I'm afraid it works both ways. It depends on which leaven we nourish. God help me nourish the yeast that comes from the one who calls us. I cannot imagine that the one who is unsettling me spends much genuine energy discerning where their yeast comes from.  Only that one thing feels good to them and another is uncomfortable. And if it is uncomfortable it has to be annihilated. But the one who calls me, calls me to discomfort the comfortable and comfort the afflicted. The problem is that in one way or another, we are all comfortable; we are all afflicted.


3) What is the invitation in all this? To hand it all over to the one who calls us.


"Holy One, receive that which unsettles, send us the yeast that leavens the whole batch of dough for good."


Breathprayer: "Obey... the one who calls you."

"Faith... Working through Love."

I ask for the grace to pray and meditate faithfully.  I ask for patience, tolerance, compassion, and empathy.  I ask to abstain from anger, anxiety, compulsive behaviour, discouragement, and self-importance. I ask to know and follow Jesus more closely, seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly.


Galatians 5:1-6

5¹For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

2 Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. ³Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire law. ⁴You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. ⁵For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. ⁶For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.

1) "...Christ has set us free;:" "...Stand firm;" "...do not submit again to a yoke of slavery;" "...fallen away from Grace;" "...the only thing that counts is faith working through love;" "...faith working through love;" "...the only thing that counts is faith working through love"


2) How easily am I pulled back into an old pattern of behaviour, one that I have given up? I am free without that pattern, but under stress, adversity, conflict, it is so easy to return to that pattern. "Stand firm." I even have friends who prefer the old pattern.  It is as inconvenient to them as to me, learning a new set of practices. And the world gives lots of encouragement to return to the way things were, rather than embracing a new way of being. "The only thing that counts is faith working through love." I'm right.  I want to prove I'm right.  I want the person who has wronged me to admit that they've wronged me and that I'm right.  But "the only thing that counts is faith working through love." I'm so hyper sensitive to enabling addictive/alienating/dysfunctional behaviour. What constitutes "standing firm"? What constitutes rigidly returning to old practices? And what constitutes receiving freedom? What response constitutes "faith working through love"? You can't hurt me that way any more? But I can't make you change. It's all in Christ's hands. "Christ has set us free."


3) What is the invitation in all this? To make "the only thing that counts is faith working through love" my mantra for the day, week, month... season...


"Christ set us free."


Breathprayer: "Faith... Working through Love."